Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Senior Games
Held in Southern Utah each October since 1987, the Huntsman World Senior Games has been recognized as the premier senior athletic event in the world. Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club member Barry Marcus entered two cycling events this year (his second Senior Games).
“I didn't win any medals this time but I was happy with my effort and had a good trip” Barry said. “The hill climb was a 5K time trial with a course that ranged from 6-8% and a short section of 10% steepness. I improved my hill climb time from 24 minutes last year to 19 minutes - good for 10th out of 13 in my division”.
The Senior Games goal has been to create an international sports event open to men and women 50 years or older, that fosters health and physical fitness becoming a way of life, not an occasional hobby. There are 22 athletic events over a two-week period, with contestants coming from as far as Russia and Australia.
“I met up at the games with Jesse De Jesus, father of Jessica De Jesus (the preeminent bay area Touchstone Bike Club organizer)”. Barry went on to say, “Jesse started the 25 mile time trial only to find his handlebars were loose so he turned around, went back to his car, tightened the bars and took off again. He figured he lost 5 minutes. Well he still finished in 1:02, good for 6th place. The winner in his division did the ride in 55 minutes. Without the loose handlebars Jesse would have been second!”
Barry ended his story with:” I finished the 37 mile road race, my second event, in guess what - 10th out of 13. It was beautiful course and I felt good the whole ride - just outclassed. There were two long climbs for a total of about 2,000' and a fast, fun descent at the end. I finished in 2:04, with the winners coming in at around 1:45 - the course record is 1:43. These old guys are awesome. There was actually one guy riding at 99 years old!”
Held in Southern Utah each October since 1987, the Huntsman World Senior Games has been recognized as the premier senior athletic event in the world. Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club member Barry Marcus entered two cycling events this year (his second Senior Games). “I didn't win any medals this time but I was happy with my effort and had a good trip” Barry said. “The hill climb was a 5K time trial with a course that ranged from 6-8% and a short section of 10% steepness. I improved my hill climb time from 24 minutes last year to 19 minutes - good for 10th out of 13 in my division”.
The Senior Games goal has been to create an international sports event open to men and women 50 years or older, that fosters health and physical fitness becoming a way of life, not an occasional hobby. There are 22 athletic events over a two-week period, with contestants coming from as far as Russia and Australia.
“I met up at the games with Jesse De Jesus, father of Jessica De Jesus (the preeminent bay area Touchstone Bike Club organizer)”. Barry went on to say, “Jesse started the 25 mile time trial only to find his handlebars were loose so he turned around, went back to his car, tightened the bars and took off again. He figured he lost 5 minutes. Well he still finished in 1:02, good for 6th place. The winner in his division did the ride in 55 minutes. Without the loose handlebars Jesse would have been second!”
Barry ended his story with:” I finished the 37 mile road race, my second event, in guess what - 10th out of 13. It was beautiful course and I felt good the whole ride - just outclassed. There were two long climbs for a total of about 2,000' and a fast, fun descent at the end. I finished in 2:04, with the winners coming in at around 1:45 - the course record is 1:43. These old guys are awesome. There was actually one guy riding at 99 years old!”
Labels: members, Sacramento Pipeworks, Touchstone Bike Club
¶ Tuesday, October 31, 2006
